I recently saw two shows currently on display in New York that are worth mentioning. Kara Walker shows new drawings and text works at the Sikkema Jenkins Gallery in Chelsea. The drawings are significantly different than her earlier cut out silhouette works, but are equally if not more powerful. They are bold and aggressive and very moving. Please see:http://www.sikkemajenkinsco.com/karawalker_viewexh5.html
I also saw Ai Weiwei’s Chinese Zodiac sculptures opposite the southeast corner of Central park. They are playful and exquisitely sculpted bronzes.
Sadly the artist is now in Chinese custody for his outspoken criticism of the Chinese government.

I had the great honor and pleasure this year of being a judge for the Doug Wright awards for graphic novels and comic books. I read 10 amazing books and it was really difficult to come up with winners. My personal favorite was Baba Yaga and the Wolf. The following is a brief missive from the website:
Baba Yaga and the Wolf, Marek Colek and Pat Shewchuk, drawing inspiration from early Russian animated films, Slavic mythology, and symbols and pictography associated with the many iterations of the Baba Yaga mythos, have given new breath to an age-old cautionary tale of being careful to voice that which one most desires in a world where every leaf on every branch on every tree might be aware of such wants and the darkness that exists at their root.
Wonderful work!
Also, from 3 years ago I love Jillian Tamaki’s beautiful drawings in the graphic novel Skim which she produced with her cousin Mariko Tamaki.
Really gorgeous. Both books are highly recommended!

Here’s a new watercolour painting. A number of these guys live in my backyard and on my deck. I like watching them and how their social order works. It’s amazing to me that we have so much wildlife even though we’re right downtown Toronto. Last year I saw a beautiful fox in front of my house!